The Association of American Publishers (AAP) is the national trade association of the American book publishing industry. AAP has more than 300 members, including most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. Former U.S. congresswoman Patricia Schroeder served as the association's CEO from 1997 until 2009, taking over the role from two time US Ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas A. Veliotes. On May 1, 2009 former U.S. congressman Tom Allen took over as president and CEO.